§ 81. Mr. Gowerasked the Minister of Labour what policy his Department adopts in respect of men serving in the merchant navy who are temporarily unable to obtain sea-going employment in cases where they are in call-up age groups; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Iain MacleodThe call-up of merchant seamen is suspended so long as they remain satisfactorily so employed.
My Department is informed when a man has ceased to be a merchant seaman, but the fact that a seafarer is temporarily unemployed is not regarded as indicating that he is no longer a merchant seaman.